Letter to the Editor

Sen. Bradley urged to support anti-fracking bill

Posted
Wednesday, January 31, 2018 12:00 pm

As residents of an area in the state continually threatened by mining and other industrial polluters, we commend Senator Rob Bradley for leading the fight to protect our springs and natural resources here in Northern Florida. What is concerning, though, is that he hasn’t moved forward on supporting one of the biggest threats to Florida’s environment and economy: fracking.

The activists who gathered in Orange Park on January 11 calling on Bradley to be a hero on this issue hit the nail on the head. As an environmental champion, it is astonishing that Senator Bradley has not pushed forward this critical piece of legislation to protect his constituents and Floridians statewide. In fact, just last week Senator Bradley was cited by Politico as having chosen not to have a hearing on the bill in his panel because he doesn’t think it had a chance to pass in the House. However, the bill is believed to have enough votes to pass in the Senate to which he belongs.

We are hoping Bradley will become the hero the activists in Orange Park summoned. Heroes don’t recoil because of roadblocks. Heroes fight because it is the right thing to do. By stalling on the fracking ban bill in his committee, Senator Bradley is bowing to the already too powerful State House. Bradley has shown his strength and resolve in getting legislation passed in his Forever Florida fight and an important Everglades restoration bill. We hope he steps up to the plate and proves to be the powerhouse that we know he is by ensuring the fracking ban bill gets to the Senate floor.